FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 1999
Release # 99-172a |
Company Phone Number: (800) 669-6394
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058
|
CPSC & Sonca Products Recall Toy Flashlights
PRODUCT: Toy flashlights - Sonca Products Ltd., of Hong Kong, is voluntarily recalling about 5,500 toy flashlights. The flashlight came with Playmobil's Coastal Search and Rescue Boats toy set (item 3063), which included a rescue boat, rescue raft, diver, and captain among other diving equipment. The toy set is not part of the recall, only the flashlight. The flashlights are made of blue rubber, measure about 6.25 inches long, and have a black cord attached. The flashlight operates with two "AA" batteries. The word "PLAYMOBIL" is on the side of the flashlight. Independent toy stores nationwide sold the toy set containing the recalled flashlight from July 1999 to September 1999 for about $40.
PROBLEM: The spring in the flashlight's battery compartment can dislodge, causing the batteries to overheat or leak. Children can suffer burns from the leaking battery.
INCIDENTS/INJURIES: Sonca has received four reports from Europe of batteries overheating or leaking. There have been two reports of minor property damage and two minor injuries, including eye irritation and skin burns.
WHAT TO DO: Consumers should take the flashlight away from children immediately. Consumers should call Sonca at (800) 669-6394 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday for instructions on returning the flashlight for a $5 refund. Consumers also can access the company's web site at www.sonca.com.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.